I don’t seriously expect anyone to read this and marvel at the characters in Softening. This post is a list all the characters so I can link back to them from other, more readable, posts. Think of it as reference.
There are a few general points to make before introducing the cast.
- There are 24 characters in Softening, which is at the upper limit perhaps. Some barely feature, such as Rob’s mum, but all have a significant effect on the story.
- I’d tried to give each character a distinctive name – ideally each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. That’s technically possible but I don’t fancy wedging in Xavier so I haven’t stuck with that entirely, or at all really.
- The characters are described with small details that I repeat – the part is the whole. Interestingly some minor characters have no physical description applied to them at all. I’m not sure if that is good. Probably not.
- Some characters are not named in the novel – Perry’s dad and Rob’s mum. That’s deliberate in some cases and just omitted in others. I give them names in this cast list though. It seems cruel not to.
- I’ve half a plan to write a series of linked books with these characters and others passing in and out of them. A pipe dream maybe, but it’s good to dream.
- I love all the characters, irrespective of their flaws or perhaps because of them. It’s why I wrote the novel, to spend time with them all.
Romantic Leads
Northern Perry
Perry is the main point of view character for the story. She works as the finance director of a tech company. From northern England and loves the city of her birth.
Character
Impatient and sharp, and has simmering anger issues. Affluent, high competent but lonely.
Appearance
Well toned to the point of being too thin. Sharp featured but elegant and contained. Tall and self-assured. Mid 30s.
Australian Rob
The object of Perry’s affection (eventually!). Rob also has POV sections, but a lot less than Perry – it is Perry’s story. Rob is a maths teacher in a generic city school. He does not take job seriously and this attitude bleeds through to other areas in his life. He is originally from Toowoomba, Queensland.
Character
Self-depreciating, clumsy, talks too much and doesn’t appear to listen sometimes. Probably has low level ADHD but this is never alluded to in the story. He has a good heart.
Appearance
Shorter but not excessively so. Bright eyes that seem to twinkle on demand. Slightly overlong brown curly hair. Mid 30s but often acts like he is in his 20s.
POV Characters
Intense Clayton
Clayton is one of the two meditation teachers of the ‘Introduction to Meditation class.
Character
Very intense to the point where people are unsettled by his presence. Very direct with an atom splitting stare.
Appearance
Wiry man of indeterminate age – could be early 30s but later turns out to be in late 50s. Fond of tight fitting T-shirts.
Lovely Lovely Vanessa
Vanessa is the second meditation teacher.
Character
Clearly a lovely woman who can’t help but see the best in people. Is sometimes oblivious to events and has a high tolerance for embarrassing situations which appear not to phase her in the slightest.
Appearance
Long grey haired, willowy lady, probably in late 50s or early 60s. Wears beads and charms, and is always sporting a voluminous, ethnic style cardigan, which she envelopes other characters in during moments of crisis.
Stressed Dolores
Busy parent with four children. Her name means suffering.
Character
Constantly tired. Frequently in background searching for coffee which is invariably not there, empty or a chicory substitute.
Sullen Sophie
Dolores’s difficult eldest daughter. Even her grandmother won’t be alone with her.
Character
Sucking negative presence but bonds with Perry.
Appearance
Dark clothes, dark looks.
Rest of Meditation Class
Community Warden Esteban
Odd, awkward middle aged man who is a self-appointed community warden in the run down inner city suburb where he lives.
Character
Quiet with unspecified neurodiverse tendencies, probably some form of ASD. Surprisingly diligent.
Appearance
Habitual wearer of a fluorescent workers jacket, even when indoors.
Ryan and Kyle
Borderline criminal youths who constantly hang around outside the meditation class.
Character
Abusive and threatening, but can be friendly and helpful. Rough diamonds – very rough.
Appearance
Ryan is tiny and looks like a child, whereas Kyle is huge and moose like. They are both the same age, Kyle having grown into his adult body, something which is still a long way off for Ryan.
Doggy John and Doggy Julie
Older middle aged couple who are obsessed with their toy poodle. Frequently slip into talking to each other as if they are the dog and will refer to each other as Mummy and Daddy.
Character
Devoted to each other and rarely separated. In the story they are effectively one character in two bodies.
Appearance
Dress in broadly similar, comfortable clothes.
Izzy
Very keen on auras and chakras. Izzy is a cipher for a particular kind of person that invariably turns up to meditation classes. Izzy deliberately rhymes with dizzy.
Appearance
Beads and charms, just like a younger Vanessa.
Character
Models herself on what she imagines a spiritual person to be. This is a cover for a weak sense of self.
Dorothy and Brenda
Older ladies at the meditation class.
Character
Dorthy and Brenda love a particular long running soap opera. They claim they never meditate and don’t know anyone who does. Basically delusional.
Rob and Perry’s Family
Anna
Perry’s mother. Doesn’t listen to Perry but very attentive to male opinions.
Harry
Perry’s father. A certain and authoritarian presence in Perry and Ann’s life. His influence has persisted long after his death, years previously. Unnamed in story.
Tom
Rob’s father. An Aussie battler. Unnamed in story.
Grace
Rob’s Mother. Maternal and tough as old boots. Unnamed in the story.
Perry’s workplace
Mitchell
CEO at Perry’s company. Reasonable and saintly.
Lance
CIO at Perry’s company. Sharp and ultimately treacherous
Sandrine Farrera
Executive Career Coach. Highly competent but unlikeable. Very similar to Perry and consequently Perry loathes her.
Others
Officer William McCallum
Clayton’s husband.
Mike
Grizzled mechanic working in a rough part of the city. Favoured by Rob, as he is cheap and friendly. Deliberately a reference to Mike and the Mechanics – sorry.
Frank
Concierge at Perry’s apartment and amateur poet. The archetypical neutral person – someone who Perry sees on a daily basis but doesn’t notice.
